{"id":336,"date":"2025-12-04T13:40:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T13:40:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/04\/lifes-favorite-surfing-photos\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T13:40:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T13:40:45","slug":"lifes-favorite-surfing-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/04\/lifes-favorite-surfing-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"LIFE\u2019s Favorite Surfing Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you look at the best-selling photos in the LIFE print store<\/a>, you find that a couple sports have representation that far outstrips their popularity with today’s fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One is boxing\u2014and that owes to the continuing popularity of Muhammad Ali<\/a>, one of the true icons not just of sports but of popular culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The other is surfing. That one stands out because it is more about a pastime than a competition. There are many quotes<\/a> that sum up the appeal of surfing. Here’s one from noted surfer Frosty Hesson: “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Hesson made his name as a big-wave surfer<\/a>, but the sentiment can be understood by anyone who has taken a refreshing dip in the ocean.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The sense of freedom and joy is what makes these surf pictures come alive. Many LIFE photographers took their turns having a day at the beach. Some of the most wonderful photos were taken by Allan Grant, more noted as a chronicler of Hollywood<\/a>. But he also swung out to nearby Malibu and captured the surf culture there. This overhead shot<\/a> of riders catching a wave is LIFE’s best-selling surf print.<\/p>\n

LIFE photographers such as Ralph Crane<\/a>, Loomis Dean<\/a> and Frank Scherschel<\/a> turned up gems as well. All these photos are wonderful. Enjoy,<\/p>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, California 1961<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfers, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfers, Malibu, California 1961<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, California, 1950.<\/p>\n

Loomis Dean\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.<\/p>\n

Frank Scherschel\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.<\/p>\n

Ralph Crane\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Manhattan Beach, Calif., 1965.<\/p>\n

Ralph Crane\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Australia, 1958.<\/p>\n

John Dominis\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Australia, 1958.<\/p>\n

John Dominis\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Hawaii, 1963.<\/p>\n

George Silk\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.<\/p>\n

Frank Scherschel\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Hawaii, 1959.<\/p>\n

Ralph Crane\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, Calif., 1961.<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961.<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Sixteen-year-old <\/p>\n
\n

Sixteen-year-old Kathy Kohner (the real-life inspiration for the character of Gidget) rode a wave, Malibu, Calif., 1957.<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1961<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.<\/p>\n

Loomis Dean\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.<\/p>\n

Loomis Dean\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.<\/p>\n

Frank Scherschel\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Lima, Peru, 1959.<\/p>\n

Frank Scherschel\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, Malibu, California, 1957<\/p>\n

Allan Grant\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950<\/p>\n

Loomis Dean\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Surfing, <\/p>\n
\n

Surfing, San Onofre, California, 1950.<\/p>\n

Loomis Dean\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The post LIFE’s Favorite Surfing Photos<\/a> appeared first on LIFE<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A series of surfing photos from back in the day, as well as quotes from those lucky souls who spend more time in the water than on land.
\nThe post LIFE’s Favorite Surfing Photos appeared first on<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifestyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=336"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/336\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ballparkplaceapts.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}